Latch Element Supported By A Structure Separated From Chair Or Seat (e.g., Vehicle Mounted Striker, Etc.) Patents (Class 297/378.13)
  • Patent number: 8439446
    Abstract: A vehicle seat reclining device comprises a latch mechanism having latch holes defined in a rail along a central axial line, a slider hole penetrating through a slider so as to be alignable with the latch holes, a support portion slidably supported on the slider, and a lever coupled to the support portion so as to be pivotable about an axis that is substantially parallel to the central axial line. A latch claw is extends from the lever and is engageable with the respective latch holes via the slider hole. A first amount of play is provided between the support portion and the lever in a direction parallel to the central axial line. A second amount of play, which is less than the first amount play, is provided between the slider hole and the latch claw in the direction parallel to the central axial line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Ansei Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Ishii, Satoshi Umezu
  • Patent number: 8408648
    Abstract: A fold and tumble mechanism may be used with a vehicle seat having a seat bottom, a seat back that is pivotable with respect to the seat bottom, and a latch associated the seat bottom for coupling the seat to a vehicle body. The fold and tumble mechanism may include a recliner mechanism adapted to pivotally mount the seat back to the seat bottom, a recliner release lever, and a fold and tumble release lever. The recliner release lever is associated with the recliner mechanism and is movable to selectively release the recliner mechanism to allow the seat back to pivot. The fold and tumble release lever includes a cam that is engageable with the recliner release lever. Furthermore, the fold and tumble release lever is operable to move the recliner release lever to release the recliner mechanism, and is further operable to unlatch the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: William D. Champ
  • Patent number: 8393682
    Abstract: A seat back locking device for an automobile for a seat back 5 configured so as to be capable of being changed from an upright position to a folded-down position and vice versa, including a locking mechanism 10 for locking the seat back 5 in the upright position, a locking knob 20 for unlocking the locking mechanism 10, and a key cylinder 30 capable of locking and unlocking the locking knob 20. In the locking device, a contact part 33 that comes into contact with a contacted part 26 provided on the locking knob 20 is connectingly provided integrally with a cylinder body 31 of the key cylinder 30 so that the key cylinder 30 can be changed over between a locked state in which the contact part 33 comes into contact with the contacted part 26 to inhibit the rotation of the locking knob 20 and an unlocked state in which the contact part 33 does not come into contact with the contacted part 26 to allow the rotation of the locking knob 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignees: Suzuki Motor Corporation, NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Hosoda, Takashi Ono, Takefumi Mitsugi
  • Patent number: 8360496
    Abstract: A folding seat system for use with a vehicle includes, but is not limited to, a seat body including a seat bottom and a seat back. The seat back is rotatably mounted to the seat bottom such that the seat back can be folded over the seat bottom. A hinge is connected to the seat body and is configured to attach to the vehicle. The hinge is further configured to permit the seat body to rotate approximately 180° in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle between a forward position, an intermediate position, and a storage position when the seat back is folded over the seat bottom. A biasing member biases the seat body towards the storage position when the seat body is in the forward position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Cristian Farcas, Chris Piscitelli
  • Patent number: 8353552
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat base, a seat back, and a striker. The seat back connects with the seat base for pivotal movement about a pivot axis. The striker is moveable in a linear direction between a retracted position where the striker is disposed in the seat back and an extended position where the striker extends from the seat back for engaging an associated latch. Movement of the seat back in a first direction, which is toward the seat base, results in the striker moving toward the retracted position. Movement of the seat back in a second direction, which is away from the seat base, results in the striker moving toward the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scheurer, II, Terrie Ellison, Trenton Hobbs, Derek Shane Lindsay
  • Patent number: 8342605
    Abstract: A vehicle seat lock device is provided. The vehicle seat lock device includes a seat lock housing, a striker, a hook member and a blocking member. The seat lock housing is configured to be fixed to one of a seat back and a vehicle body. The striker is configured to be fixed to the other of the seat back and the vehicle body. The hook member is rotatably mounted on the seat lock housing to latch and unlatch the striker by engaging and disengaging the striker, respectively. The blocking member is pivotally mounted on the seat lock housing. The blocking member pivots and contacts with the hook member to prevent the hook member from rotating and to maintain engagement between the hook member and the striker when a load that is higher than a predetermined amount is inputted to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Technical Center of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Tanaka, Yasuhiro Kojima, Nicholas DeMarco, Timothy E. Fry
  • Patent number: 8336966
    Abstract: A support pin component for attachment to a reclining part of a vehicle seat and for insertion into a support receiver of a support frame, and a vehicle seat having a support pin component. The support pin component comprises an attachment region configured for attachment to a reclining part of a vehicle seat, and a pin, preferably having an internal thread, configured for pivotable insertion into a support receiver of a seat frame. The support pin component is a shaped part of sheet steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Häntsch, Heiner Kempf
  • Patent number: 8313147
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a base and a seatback pivotably connected to the base. A latch mechanism holds the seatback in an upright position. A seat latch assembly includes a release mechanism operatively connected to the latch mechanism and including a latch handle. The latch handle is rotatable between a first extended position where the latch handle extends outwardly from an outboard lateral side of the seatback, and a second retracted position where the handle is generally flush with the outboard lateral side of the seatback. Movement of the latch handle from one of the first position and the second position to the other one of the first position and second position occurs upon movement of the seatback to one of the upright position and a stowed position to provide more clearance for interior trim of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeffrey H. Scheurer
  • Patent number: 8251430
    Abstract: A vehicle seat reclining device comprises a slider, which has an engaging portion and rotatable portions, and a rail having engagable portions. The engaging portion is retractable from the rail during a backrest tilting operation and advances towards the rail to lock the backrest in a selected tilted position. The engagable portions engage with the advanced engaging portion to prevent sliding of the slider relative to the rail. Clearances are provided between the rail and the slider in a width direction that is orthogonal to a rotational axis defined in the engaging portion. The width direction is also orthogonal to the central axial line of the rail. The rotatable portions project from the slider in a radial direction from the rotational axis and narrow the clearances so as to guide the rotation of the slider relative to the rail around the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Ansei Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Ishii, Satoshi Umezu
  • Patent number: 8251429
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle including a folding rear compartment seat, the seat resides adjacent the vehicle body. The vehicle body includes a latch assembly accessible via a slot. A seat belt retractor is disposed within the vehicle body above the slot. A seat belt webbing extends from the retractor. The seat is comprised of a seat back and a seat base with a pivot interconnecting the back and base. An assembly including a striker and a webbing guide is secured to the seat back. The assembly comprises a first arm mounted to the seat back and engaging the striker element and a second arm adapted to receive the seat belt webbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Derek Shane Lindsay, Carlington George Demetrius
  • Publication number: 20120193963
    Abstract: The present invention teaches a high handle seat latch incorporated into a rotating seatback including a body integrated into the seatback and exhibiting a rear facing hook engaging a package shelf supported striker in an upright design position. A lift handle is supported at an upper end of the body and is accessible from a top of the seatback. A linkage interconnects the handle with the hook and is responsive to upward rotation of the handle to rotate the hook to a striker release and forward dump position. A cable actuates the linkage independent of the lift handle to actuate the hook to the release position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: BAE INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Tavis Lutzka, Stanley D. Pacolt, Paul Dennis Lesperance
  • Patent number: 8226169
    Abstract: A lock (10) is provided for a vehicle, particularly for a vehicle seat that interacts with a counterelement (B) in the locked state. The lock includes a catch (15) pivotally supported about a first bearing pin (14), having a holder (15a) for the counterelement (B) and a functional surface (15b), and at least one securing element (20, 22) pivotally supported about a second bearing pin (18). The securing element interacts in the locked state, at least intermittently, with the functional surface (15b) in order to secure the locked state of the lock (10). The counterelement (B) approaches the functional surface (15b), the catch (15) having a contact lug (30) that comes into contact with the counterelement (B) approaching the functional surface (15b) before the counterelement (B) can come into contact with the functional surface (15b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Olaf Kreuels, Thomas Christoffel
  • Patent number: 8215695
    Abstract: A removable vehicle seat includes a base, a removable seat main body, and a first attachment mechanism and a second attachment mechanism configured to removably attach the removable seat main body to the base. The first attachment mechanism includes a pin provided to the removable seat main body; and an attachment member provided to the base, and provided with a groove to which the pin is inserted. A disengagement prevention structure is provided between the pin and the attachment member, the disengagement prevention structure being configured to prevent the pin from disengaging from the groove. The second attachment mechanism includes a striker provided to the removable seat main body; and a lock device provided to the base and configured to releasably engage with the striker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ida, Mikihito Muramatsu, Brian Thiel, Trevor Delanoy, Louis Vetere
  • Publication number: 20120133188
    Abstract: A latching system that may be associated with a seat. The latching system may include a latch arm configured to engage a striker and a biasing member having a first portion. The latch arm moves from an unlatched position to a latched position when the first portion disengages the latch arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stanislaw Andrzej Wieclawski, Krzysztof Wroblewski
  • Patent number: 8146996
    Abstract: An inclination adjuster is provided for a vehicle seat. The adjuster includes a rail and a slide piece displaceable on the rail. The rail is curved and has a one piece flat profile. Latching means interacts with complementary latching means for engaging the rail. One or both latching means may include a claw or claws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Andreas Vedder, Holger Finner
  • Patent number: 8128135
    Abstract: A lock device for a vehicle includes a base plate provided with an entrance/retracting groove for receiving or retracting a striker and a latch pivotally supported on the base plate by a latch axis. The latch includes a lock groove engaging with or disengaging from the striker entering the entrance/retracting groove and rotatable between a lock release position allowing the striker entering into the entrance/retracting groove and a lock position for holding the striker in the entrance/retracting groove by the movement of the striker. A first biasing member is provided for biasing the latch in the rotational direction to the release position to bias the pawl in a rotational direction towards the release preventing position and a second biasing member is provided for biasing the rotation plate in a rotational direction towards the release position of the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Maeta, Kouji Kondoh, Takuya Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8118342
    Abstract: A lock apparatus of a seat for a vehicle includes a striker, a first plate including a first plate groove portion, a second plate including a second plate groove portion, plural fixing portions provided at the first and second plates, a hook member being pivotable between a lock release position and a lock position and including a hook groove portion with and from which the striker is engageable and releasable, a pawl member engageable with and releasable from the hook member, a biasing member biasing the hook member and the pawl member, and plural connecting portions provided at the first and second plates for connecting the first and second plates. The connecting portions are located at an area defined between the fixing portions and one side portion of the first and second plates opposite to another side portion at which the first and second plate groove portions are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motohiro Kokubo, Ikuno Nakanishi, Kouji Kondoh
  • Publication number: 20120025557
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle including a folding rear compartment seat, the seat resides adjacent the vehicle body. The vehicle body includes a latch assembly accessible via a slot. A seat belt retractor is disposed within the vehicle body above the slot. A seat belt webbing extends from the retractor. The seat is comprised of a seat back and a seat base with a pivot interconnecting the back and base. An assembly including a striker and a webbing guide is secured to the seat back. The assembly comprises a first arm mounted to the seat back and engaging the striker element and a second arm adapted to receive the seat belt webbing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Derek Shane Lindsay, Carlington George Demetrius
  • Patent number: 8096618
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism for use with a vehicle seat having a floor striker engaging bottom and a pivotally associated seatback. A seatback is pivotally secured to a fixed support and includes an arcuate lower surface upon which are defined teeth. A pawl is pivotally secured to the support and includes an upper surface with additional inter-engaging teeth when the seatback is in an upright position. A release cam secures to the support proximate a recessed underside location of the pawl and maintains the pawl in locking engagement with the seatback sector in a first position. The release cam rotates to cause the pawl to pivot out of engagement with the seatback, allowing it to pivot to a dump position opposing the seat bottom and concurrent with the seat bottom releasing from the floor striker and tumbling to a forward rotated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Bruck, David M. Grable
  • Patent number: 8066328
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a vehicle seat supported by the vehicle frame, and a striker connected to the vehicle frame. The vehicle frame defines a passenger ingress/egress opening. The vehicle seat includes a pivotal seat back movable between an upright and a collapsed position. The striker includes a handle grip positioned on the vehicle frame for gripping by an associated passenger entering or exiting the vehicle through the passenger ingress/egress opening. The striker is positioned on the vehicle frame to cooperate with the seat back to retain the seat back in the upright position. A vehicle seat is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Derek Shane Lindsay
  • Patent number: 8047614
    Abstract: The present invention provides a seat apparatus having: a seat back; a forward tilt device that allows at least a portion of the seat back to tilt forward; a securing device that secures the seat back at a vehicle body side; and a release strap that is used for releasing a securing condition of the securing device and has a grip portion. The release strap has a first condition in which the grip portion is positioned at a rear side of the seat back and a second condition in which the grip portion is positioned at a portion so as to be accessible from a front side of the seat back, and one of the first condition and the second condition of the release strap can be selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignees: NHK Spring Co., Ltd., Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Goshima, Masami Handa, Morihiro Ichisugi, Toshiaki Sunaga
  • Publication number: 20110233982
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a motor vehicle having a floor and a structural pillar includes a seat base connected to the vehicle floor and a seatback pivotally connected to the seat base. The seatback is capable of pivoting between a stowed position wherein the seatback is folded toward the seat base and an upright position wherein the seatback is generally perpendicular to the seat base. A striker mechanism is provided on a top outboard corner of the seatback. The striker mechanism is arranged to be movable between a generally vertically extended position wherein the striker mechanism engages a latch located on the structural pillar of the vehicle when the seat is in the upright position, and a retracted position wherein the striker mechanism is pivoted toward the top outboard corner of the seatback as the seatback is pivoted from the upright position toward the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Derek Shane Lindsay
  • Patent number: 7954898
    Abstract: A latch mechanism may include a housing, a claw rotatably supported within the housing between a latched position and an unlatched position, a first cam rotatably supported within the housing and operable to lock the claw in the latched position, and a second cam supported within the housing and slidably coupled to the first cam to selectively translate and rotate the first cam relative to the claw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Fisher & Company, Incorporated
    Inventors: Bernardus W. G. Van De Geer, Erik O. Pettersson
  • Patent number: 7931338
    Abstract: A vehicle seat locking assembly includes a vehicle seat locking pin for locking an associated vehicle seat back in a desired position when the locking pin is in a locked position, and a vehicle seat lever for moving the locking pin. One of the locking pin and the lever has a cam surface, and the other of the locking pin and the lever have a cam follower cooperatively engaged with the cam surface to move the locking pin to an unlocked position when the lever is moved to a release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Derek Shane Lindsay
  • Patent number: 7909405
    Abstract: An arrangement of operation unit in one upper corner portion of seat back of automotive seat is disclosed, in which an operating lever of the operation unit is accommodated in a housing fixed to a connecting bracket disposed in such one upper corner portion, and a shape retaining bracket is fixed to the connecting bracket to retain the peripheral edge region of opening of a trim cover assembly through which an operating lever of the operation unit projects outwardly. The peripheral edge region is inserted between the shape regaining bracket and a bezel, and further, the connecting bracket, housing and trim cover assembly are connected with one another at a connecting point, thereby effectively retaining the peripheral edge region of opening of the trim cover assembly in a predetermined shape conforming to outer contour of the one upper corner portion of seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Arima
  • Patent number: 7896441
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having a seat frame that in its rear region is adapted to be releasably arrested on structural elements by a left arresting device and a right arresting device, which are releasable separately relative to one another, preferably via different displacement processes. A back rest frame is preferably releasably arrested on the seat frame via a freely pivotable device, such as an arresting control. An actuating device, especially an actuating handle, that is activatable by the user is preferably provided for releasing the freely pivotable device. A first one of the arresting devices can be releasable by the actuating device, whereby different displacement paths can be provided for the release of the freely pivotable device and of the first arresting device. One or more driver systems can be provided for forming idle paths or free play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH
    Inventors: Mareike Krahn-Lau, Klaus-Dieter Habendank
  • Patent number: 7878595
    Abstract: Operation force required for pivot operation of a movable body can be set almost constant independent of variation in the angular position of the pivoting. A pivot mechanism (tumble mechanism (10A)) has a floor-side member (B) fixed to a predetermined position; a seat-side member (12) connected to the floor side member (B) by hinge coupling so as to be pivotable in a predetermined angle range; and a torsion spring member (14)provided to urge the seat side member (12)in the opposite direction to gravity that acts on the seat side member (12). The pivot mechanism is constructed such that weight moments about a pivot center (13a) acting on the seat-side member (12) as the pivot mechanism move varies. The torsion spring member (14) has an urging the section (14b) for urging the seat seat member (12) and a support section (14a) that is supported by the floor side member (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taku Imajou
  • Publication number: 20110012416
    Abstract: A stowable vehicle seat includes a seat supporting portion that supports one end portion side of a seat cushion movably in a front-and-rear direction, a seat back that can be folded to a seat cushion through a reclining mechanism, a link mechanism that is connected to the reclining mechanism and is movable, and a strap connected to the reclining mechanism through the link mechanism. The link mechanism has a fourth link member that prohibits return from a moved position to an initial position after movement by the strap, and since an unlocked state of the reclining mechanism is maintained even if a pulling operation of the strap is stopped, the seat back can be reliably folded and stowed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Sayama
  • Publication number: 20110012415
    Abstract: A locking mechanism (1) for a vehicle seat includes a latch (11) that is to be interlocked with an opposite element (B) and is mounted to be pivotable about a first bearing bolt (13), at least one securing element (25, 31) that secures the latch (11) in the locked state, and a movable unlocking handle (42). The unlocking handle (42) is directly hinged to one of the securing elements (25, 31) by means of a single pivot point (48).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter Müller, Olaf Kreuels, Stefan Haber, Volker Windecker, Denise Schmitt
  • Patent number: 7871127
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism for use with a vehicle seat having a floor striker engaging bottom and a pivotally associated seatback. A seatback is pivotally secured to a fixed support and includes an arcuate lower surface upon which are defined teeth. A pawl is pivotally secured to the support and includes an upper surface with additional inter-engaging teeth when the seatback is in an upright position. A release cam secures to the support proximate a recessed underside location of the pawl and maintains the pawl in locking engagement with the seatback sector in a first position. The release cam rotates to cause the pawl to pivot out of engagement with the seatback, allowing it to pivot to a dump position opposing the seat bottom and concurrent with the seat bottom releasing from the floor striker and tumbling to a forward rotated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Bruck, David Grable
  • Publication number: 20110006576
    Abstract: A locking mechanism (1) for a vehicle seat, particularly for a motor vehicle seat, includes a latch (11) that is to be interlocked with an opposite element (B) and is mounted to be pivotable about a first bearing bolt (13), and at least one securing element (25, 31) that secures the latch (11) in the locked state. A cap (17) which rests on the latch (11) covers at least part of the edge of a hook opening of the latch (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Peter Müller, Olaf Kreuels, Stefan Haber, Volker Windecker, Denise Schmitt
  • Publication number: 20110006577
    Abstract: A locking mechanism (1) for a vehicle seat, particularly for a motor vehicle seat, includes a latch that is to be interlocked with an opposite element (B) and is mounted to be pivotable about a first bearing bolt (13), at least one securing element (25, 31) that secures the latch (11) in the locked state, and a lock housing (5) which supports the latch (11) and the securing element (25, 31). The lock housing (5) has an integrated first stop (5a) for the opposite element (B). The stop (5a) has a damping effect when the opposite element (B) rests against the lock housing (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter Müller, Olaf Kreuels, Stefan Haber, Volker Windecker, Denise Schmitt
  • Patent number: 7819478
    Abstract: A method and a high latch for a vehicle seat. The vehicle seat has a seatback pivotably coupled to a seat base and the seat base is coupled to a vehicle body having a vehicle wall. The high latch includes a hook carriage including a structural hook, with the hook carriage coupled to the seatback. A striker assembly including a striker arm is configured to selectively engage the structural hook, with the striker assembly coupled to the vehicle body. With the structural hook and striker arm engaged, the seatback will move with the striker assembly from the first position to a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Les Griswold, David L. Allen, Kenneth Ptak, Michael Laskowski
  • Publication number: 20100264710
    Abstract: A tiltable anti-pinch vehicle seat assembly for an associated vehicle is provided. The seat assembly includes a seat and a tilt assembly is provided for supporting the seat and is disposed between the seat and a chassis of the associated vehicle. The tilt assembly is capable of moving the seat between a forward tilted position and a rearward latched position. The tilt assembly includes a first latching member. A second latching member is secured to the chassis of the associated vehicle for selectively engaging the latch and the latch and the striker cooperate to maintain the seat in the rearward latched position. A pinch guard housing is disposed about the first and second latching members. The housing substantially covers the first latching member, the second latching member, and a pinch zone defined between the first latching member and the second latching member when the tilt assembly is in the forward tilted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: Derek Shane Lindsay
  • Publication number: 20100237673
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a vehicle seat supported by the vehicle frame, and a striker connected to the vehicle frame. The vehicle frame defines a passenger ingress/egress opening. The vehicle seat includes a pivotal seat back movable between an upright and a collapsed position. The striker includes a handle grip positioned on the vehicle frame for gripping by an associated passenger entering or exiting the vehicle through the passenger ingress/egress opening. The striker is positioned on the vehicle frame to cooperate with the seat back to retain the seat back in the upright position. A vehicle seat is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventor: Derek Shane Lindsay
  • Publication number: 20100213747
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a vehicle seat fold down lever and a vehicle seat fold down lever housing. The housing can connect with the lever such that the lever is movable with respect to the housing. The housing can include an elongate slot through which an associated seat belt exits the housing. A vehicle seat is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Derek Shane Lindsay
  • Patent number: 7762604
    Abstract: A vehicle seating arrangement adapted for use in connection with a vehicle having an increased cargo and/or passenger carrying capacity is provided. The vehicle seating arrangement comprises a front or first row seat coupled to a vehicle body, a second row seat and a rear or third row seat coupled to the vehicle body. The second row seat includes a seat cushion for supporting a seat occupant and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion. The seat cushion is pivotally coupled to the vehicle body. The seat back has one of a first striker and a first latch mechanism and the vehicle body has the other of the first striker and the first latch mechanism. The third row seat includes a seat cushion affixed to the vehicle body for supporting a seat occupant, and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion. The seat back has one of a second striker and a second latch mechanism and the vehicle body has the other of the second striker and the second latch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Derek Shane Lindsay
  • Patent number: 7762605
    Abstract: A spring force of a thrust spring can be determined independently of a spring force of a locking spring, reducing an operating load of an unlocking operation. A locking device includes a locking mechanism provided on one of two members to be engaged with each other, and a striker provided on the other of the two members. The locking mechanism includes a base plate, a hook, a pawl, a cam, a locking spring, a thrust spring and a canceling plate. The base plate has a recess that is capable of receiving the striker. The hook, when rotated relative to the base plate, is capable of forming a locked condition in which the striker is held between the hook and the recess of the base plate or an unlocked condition in which the hook is spaced away from the striker. The pawl is capable of rotating relative to the base plate and maintaining the hook in the locked condition. The cam is capable of further pressing the hook in the locked condition toward a locking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taiyou Otsuka, Makoto Asano
  • Patent number: 7744152
    Abstract: A collapsing truss that completes a four-bar mechanism of a vehicle seat coupled to a vehicle floor. The vehicle seat includes a seat back coupled to a cushion structure via the collapsing truss which incorporates a pivot and a latch which engages on a pin. The collapsing truss includes a floor bracket coupled to the vehicle floor. A seat back bracket is coupled to the seat back and floor bracket. A cushion bracket is pivotally coupled to the cushion structure, the floor bracket, and the seat back bracket. The joints of the collapsing truss are defined by the seat back pivot, the cushion back/seat back bracket pivot, and the latch engagement pin. The seat back moves about the pivot when the collapsing truss operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Kurt A. Seibold
  • Patent number: 7740317
    Abstract: A lock apparatus of a seat for a vehicle includes a striker, a base including a first groove portion, a hook including a second groove portion and pivoting between a lock position and an unlock position, a pawl restraining a pivotal movement of the hook towards the unlock position while allowing the pivotal movement of the hook towards the lock position, a cam member including a cam profile for allowing the pivotal movement of the hook towards the lock position and for restraining the pivotal movement of the hook towards the unlock position, and a first biasing member. When the hook is pivoted to the lock position, the striker is positioned between the rotational shaft of the hook and the rotational shaft of the pawl, and the pawl and the hook are engaged at an opposite position of the rotational shaft of the hook relative to the striker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Sadao Ito, Naoki Goto
  • Publication number: 20100109411
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat, by turning-control a control lever, a locked state of a reclining device is cancelled, to thereby bring a seat back into a forward foldable state. When the seat back is switched into the forward folding state while maintaining the operating state of the control lever, the interlocked state between the vehicle seat and a floor is cancelled. However, when the operating state of the control lever is cancelled while the seat back is folded forward, the interlocked state between the vehicle seat and the floor is maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20100102614
    Abstract: A lock (10) is provided for a vehicle, particularly for a vehicle seat that interacts with a counterelement (B) in the locked state. The lock includes a catch (15) pivotally supported about a first bearing pin (14), having a holder (15a) for the counterelement (B) and a functional surface (15b), and at least one securing element (20, 22) pivotally supported about a second bearing pin (18). The securing element interacts in the locked state, at least intermittently, with the functional surface (15b) in order to secure the locked state of the lock (10). The counterelement (B) approaches the functional surface (15b), the catch (15) having a contact lug (30) that comes into contact with the counterelement (B) approaching the functional surface (15b) before the counterelement (B) can come into contact with the functional surface (15b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Olaf Kreuels, Thomas Christoffel
  • Patent number: 7703828
    Abstract: A vehicle seat latching system having four anchor mounting points wherein three of the four points define an engagement plane with respect to a vehicle floor. The fourth mounting point is located in a non-planar orientation to the engagement plane. A compensating latch is provided as part of the fourth mounting point to engage a mating element in a non-planar orientation. The compensating latch has a reduced engagement and release force characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: James G. O'Connor, Chad Balk
  • Patent number: 7699398
    Abstract: The invention relates to a backrest unit for a motor vehicle seat, in particular a rear seat comprising a backrest and support connected thereto. A guide rail is arranges on the rear surface of the backrest on an x-z plane. A slide is movably mounted on the guide rail and is lockable therein in different positions. When a control device associated with the slide is actuated, it brings the slide from a normally locking position into a released position. A support comprises a near end which is hinged on the slide and a distant end which is fixable to a bodywork part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jörg Sokolla, André Dick, Lutz Jonas, Andreas Müller, Burckhard Becker
  • Publication number: 20100052394
    Abstract: An actuating device (50) is provided for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat. The actuating device includes a holder (51), a manually drivable actuating handle (52), a shaft (53) mounted rotatably in the holder (51), which is connected to the actuating handle (52) and may be driven thereby, and an output (55) connected fixedly in terms of rotation to the shaft (53). The shaft (53) may also be driven by a motor (59). The motor (59) and the shaft (53) are able to be coupled to one another and decoupled from one another by means of a wrap spring (57).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Norbert HEEG, Peter MÜLLER
  • Patent number: 7658430
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a motor vehicle having a floor and a structural pillar is provided, the seat assembly including a seat bottom frame attached to the floor and a seat back frame pivotally attached to the seat bottom frame. The seat back frame is capable of pivoting between a stowed position where the seat back frame is generally parallel to the seat bottom frame and an upright position where the seat back frame is generally perpendicular to the seat bottom frame. A striker mechanism is positioned on the seat back frame and is capable of assuming a normal position arranged to engage a latch located in the structural pillar of the vehicle when the seat assembly is in an upright position, and a refracted position where the striker mechanism is retracted towards the seat back frame as the seat assembly Is pivoted from the upright position to the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Mary K. Zielinski, Paul H. Shea, Michael L. Rogers
  • Publication number: 20100026069
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism for use with a vehicle seat having a floor striker engaging bottom and a pivotally associated seatback. A seatback is pivotally secured to a fixed support and includes an arcuate lower surface upon which are defined teeth. A pawl is pivotally secured to the support and includes an upper surface with additional inter-engaging teeth when the seatback is in an upright position. A release cam secures to the support proximate a recessed underside location of the pawl and maintains the pawl in locking engagement with the seatback sector in a first position. The release cam rotates to cause the pawl to pivot out of engagement with the seatback, allowing it to pivot to a dump position opposing the seat bottom and concurrent with the seat bottom releasing from the floor striker and tumbling to a forward rotated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Bae Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Bruck, David Grable
  • Patent number: 7641282
    Abstract: A locking device for a seat back includes a release preventing mechanism for preventing the locking device from being unintendedly released by the fact that a second arm portion of a lift lever abuts on a side edge portion of a guide hole of a lock plate to cause the lift lever to rotate positively when a base plate rotates forward along a horizontal direction about a lock pin in a state where the lock pin engages with a lock hole of the lock plate and the second arm portion of the lift lever is located in the guide hole of the lock plate when the seat back is held at a rising position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignees: Johnson Controls Technology Company, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Hinata, Yoshihiko Yamauchi, Ryuji Sugita
  • Patent number: 7635166
    Abstract: A controller for a seat locking device which locks a seatback, provided with: a holder having an opening at a top end thereof; an operation knob which is rotatably provided in the opening of the holder, and transmits an operating power to the seat locking device when a rotating operation is applied thereto; and a compensator which prevents gapping between a back face of a protrusion of the operation knob, facing a side of the opening of the holder, and a side wall of the holder facing the back face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7631907
    Abstract: The present invention realizes a locking device for vehicle free from the occurrence of rattle at the portion where the striker is locked. When a lock plate 5 and a latch plate 4 are brought into a locked state and a latch-side recessed portion 4d of the latch plate 4 is engaged with a striker 20, a plate pressing cam 7 rotates clockwise by a restoring force by a coil spring 12, so that its depressing-side cam portion 7e depresses a tip end 6c of a rattle-removing plate 6. A rattle removing-side recessed portion 6d of the rattle-removing plate 6 engages with the peripheral surface of the striker 20, to suppress the rattle of the striker 20. Since the rattle removing-side recessed portion 6d is formed into the shape that matches the peripheral surface of the striker 20, occurrence of rattle can be strictly suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Imasen Denki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Yusuke Sato